Report to Congress on the ability of civilian, military, and overseas citizens to register to vote and successfully cast a ballot. Claims to be the nation’s foremost data collection effort related to voter registration, election administration, and the ways in which Americans cast their ballots. See also Election Administration and Voting Survey page for links to slides, datasets, and other materials.

Latest in a series of annual reports presented to Congress on trade policy and all activities relating to the administration of international trade agreements. The country continued to run a deficit on trade in goods and a surplus on trade in services. From the U.S. International Trade Commission

Discusses legal issues related to state and local measures that limit law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities and the various types of measures adopted or considered by states and localities. From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists

A roundup of recent legislation, hearings, and executive directives relating to cybersecurity issues over the past few years. From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists

]]>http://swemgovdocs.blogs.wm.edu/2015/07/22/cybersecurity-legislation-hearings-and-executive-branch-documents/feed/0Digest of United States Practice in International Law 2014http://swemgovdocs.blogs.wm.edu/2015/07/20/digest-of-united-states-practice-in-international-law-2014/
http://swemgovdocs.blogs.wm.edu/2015/07/20/digest-of-united-states-practice-in-international-law-2014/#commentsMon, 20 Jul 2015 18:53:27 +0000http://swemgovdocs.blogs.wm.edu/?p=52174http://www.state.gov/s/l/2014/index.htm

Provides a historical record of key legal developments involving U.S. foreign policy during 2014. From the State Department

5 to 4 Supreme Court decision which blocks further implementation of a 2011 EPA regulation under the Clean Air Act designed to control toxic mercury emissions from coal-burning power plants. The court majority said the EPA failed to consider the costs of pollution control. From the Legal Information Institute of the Cornell University Law School

5-4 Supreme Court decision that independent commissions, created within a state and bypassing the state legislature, may draw election district lines. The case involved an Arizona commission set up by voters to create less partisan redistricting processes than those of the state legislature. From the Legal Information Institute of the Cornell University Law School

Extends Fast Track Authority to the president through 2018 for reaching trade agreements. Constitutes Title 1 of legislation that extends exemptions from tax penalties for early withdrawals from retirement accounts to certain federal workers who have reached age 50. From Congress.gov

5-4 Supreme Court decision that the 1968 Fair Housing Act provides broad protection against housing discrimination and segregation. The decision allows for so-called “disparate impact” claims against lending practices and housing policy that may promote housing segregation without overt intent. The case involved the distribution of tax credits for low-income housing. From the Legal Information Institute of the Cornell University Law School

6-3 Supreme Court decision that upholds a key provision of the Affordable Care Act by agreeing that subsidies for health insurance policies purchased through the ACA–created exchanges should be available to all, whether the exchange is run by the state or the federal government.

From the Legal Information Institute of the Cornell University Law School

Provides an overview of the various components of the health insurance exchanges, including how exchanges are structured, consumer and financial assistance available, the range of plans offered, and the implications of the King v. Burwell Supreme Court case for the exchanges. From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists

Proposed regulatory standards for medium and heavy-duty trucks, buses, and vans that would improve fuel efficiency and cut carbon pollution. Agency press release with links for further information. From the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

First considers the effect of ACA repeal on health insurance coverage and on the federal budget over the next 10 years and then the macroeconomic effects of repeal. Finds that ACA repeal would increase the federal deficit by $137 billion over the 2016-2025 period. From the Congressional Budget Office

Press release with link to Federal Register article on finding that partially hydrogenated oils are not generally recognized as safe for use in human food. The determination is expected to drastically reduce the use of PHOs in the food supply. From the Food and Drug Administration

Reviews the purpose of 2014 legislation which authorizes the president to train and equip members of the Syrian opposition for specific purposes, such as combating the Islamic State and other terrorist organizations, and recent legislative developments in funding such operations. From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists

Announces proposed policy for diversity involving women and minorities in management, employment, and business practices. The statement covers financial agencies regulated by the Dodd-Frank act. From the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

Supreme Court decision that focuses on federal separation of powers issues. The case concerns whether an American, born in Jerusalem, could declare Israeli citizenship on the strength of a law passed by Congress in defiance of foreign policy on the status of Jerusalem established by the State Department. The divided court found the law unconstitutional. From the Legal Information Institute of the Cornell University Law School

Applauds the expansion of health insurance benefits to 16 million Americans since the major provisions of the Affordable Care Act took effect at the start of 2014, but documents the slower expansion of benefits in states which have declined to expand Medicaid to the nonelderly with incomes below 138% of the federal poverty level. From the Council of Economic Advisers

]]>http://swemgovdocs.blogs.wm.edu/2015/06/10/missed-opportunities-the-consequences-of-state-decisions-not-to-expand-medicaid/feed/0Orphan Works and Mass Digitization: A Report of the Register of Copyrightshttp://swemgovdocs.blogs.wm.edu/2015/06/05/orphan-works-and-mass-digitization-a-report-of-the-register-of-copyrights/
http://swemgovdocs.blogs.wm.edu/2015/06/05/orphan-works-and-mass-digitization-a-report-of-the-register-of-copyrights/#commentsFri, 05 Jun 2015 18:34:39 +0000http://swemgovdocs.blogs.wm.edu/?p=51572http://copyright.gov/orphan/reports/orphan-works2015.pdf

Documents the problems faced by those who seek to use orphan works or engage in mass digitization projects because rights holders cannot be located or identified. Proposes legislative recommendations to resolve the problem while respecting the rights of copyright owners. From the U.S. Copyright Office, Library of Congress

Reviews how the federal, state, and tribal governments regulate Indian gaming, according to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, and the role of the National Indian Gaming Commission. From the Government Accountability Office

Controversial final rule which brings use of antibiotics in animals under veterinary supervision. The rule is a response to the rise of disease-resistant microbes due to overuse of antibiotics. From the Food and Drug Administration

]]>http://swemgovdocs.blogs.wm.edu/2015/06/03/veterinary-feed-directive/feed/0Clean Water Rule Protects Streams and Wetlands Critical to Public Health, Communities, and Economyhttp://swemgovdocs.blogs.wm.edu/2015/05/28/clean-water-rule-protects-streams-and-wetlands-critical-to-public-health-communities-and-economy/
http://swemgovdocs.blogs.wm.edu/2015/05/28/clean-water-rule-protects-streams-and-wetlands-critical-to-public-health-communities-and-economy/#commentsThu, 28 May 2015 13:10:47 +0000http://swemgovdocs.blogs.wm.edu/?p=51328http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/bd4379a92ceceeac8525735900400c27/62295cddd6c6b45685257e52004fac97!OpenDocument

Agency press release which provides a summary of what the new regulation is designed to accomplish and what areas are not affected. From the Environmental Protection Agency

]]>http://swemgovdocs.blogs.wm.edu/2015/05/28/clean-water-rule-protects-streams-and-wetlands-critical-to-public-health-communities-and-economy/feed/0Clean Water Rule: Definition of “Waters of the United States”http://swemgovdocs.blogs.wm.edu/2015/05/28/clean-water-rule-definition-of-waters-of-the-united-states/
http://swemgovdocs.blogs.wm.edu/2015/05/28/clean-water-rule-definition-of-waters-of-the-united-states/#commentsThu, 28 May 2015 13:09:36 +0000http://swemgovdocs.blogs.wm.edu/?p=51324http://www2.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-05/documents/rule_preamble_web_version.pdf

Final rule that responds to a 2006 Supreme Court ruling by clarifying what waters are affected by the Clean Water Act. The rule defines affected waters as navigable waterways and their tributaries. From the Environmental Protection Agency

Surveys the states, including Virginia, which have passed legislation regulating in some manner the use of drones. Also covers proposed rules at the federal level. From the National Conference of State Legislatures